UGT Renewables plans 3,000-megawatt solar energy project in Iraq
The Iraqi Minister of Electricity, Ziyad Ali Fadel, met on Wednesday with the British Ambassador to Iraq, Irfan Siddiq, and other officials to discuss the details of the memorandum of understanding the Iraqi government signed last month with US-based UGT Renewables to build a 3,000-megawatt solar power plant in Iraq, according to a statement released by the Iraqi Electricity Ministry.
The project includes the construction of energy storage systems with capacities of up to 500 megawatts, as well as 1,000 kilometers of high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission lines to improve the efficiency and stability of Iraq's electricity grid.
Fadel clarified that the ministry aims to produce 12,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2030, in addition to developing different renewable energy projects that will help achieve sustainable development and environmental preservation.
The officials who attended the meeting underlined their desire to expand their collaboration with Iraq, reaffirming their commitment to transferring experience and modern technologies while also contributing to the Iraqi electrical sector's long-term growth.
In light of the country's growing need for power, the Iraqi government is taking measures to diversify its energy sources and attain sustainability in the energy industry.
In 2023, the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity sought to sign contracts with big businesses, such as France-based TotalEnergies, to build a 1,000-megawatt power plant in Basra, and China-based PetroChina to develop another power plant in Muthanna with a capacity of 750 megawatts.
The Iraqi cabinet has approved a plan to assign projects to specialized companies for the generation of 7,500 megawatts of solar energy by 2030. These initiatives are part of a broader national strategy that aims to produce a total of 12,000 megawatts of solar energy.
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